From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
The defects of front and back axle control, referencing other manufacturers and proposing a new design.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\O\April1926-June1926\ Scan32 | |
| Date | 18th April 1926 | |
| HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}) TO DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}) FROM R.{Sir Henry Royce} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer}) (Le CanadelHenry Royce's French residence.) ORIGINAL R3/M18.4.26. Rec'd at W.W. evening of 21.4.26. C. to BJ. WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} RG.{Mr Rowledge} re. FRONT AXLE CONTROL. X8420 X161 X8350 We know now so many defects of the almost universally adopted front axle control that one thinks a greater effort should be made for a distinct departure to sweep away as many faults as possible. (1) Torsion due to deflected road wheel, and due to brakes throwing the steering pivots out of their proper angle. (2) A road obstruction or pothole changing the vertical plane of the road wheels and by gyrostatic action causing shock to steering wheel and setting up high speed wobbles. (3) Lateral translation due to the axle rising or falling on one side only, throwing the car sideways to the right or the left. BACK AXLE. Defect (3) applies to the back axle but in the 20HP. and EAC. we have dealt with this fairly well by the spring control being under the axle. The old Sizaire-Naudin and the modern Lancia-Lambda have done what is needed, but one doubts if their scheme is practical for strength, wear, and road clearance. The more recent Sizaire has another arrangement for the same object, but still of doubtful practicability. The scheme I have thought of trying as a design and making roughly for one of our cars is given in my sketches to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||